Sprinter Benjamin Heralds Talent Academy

The sporting careers of seven aspiring athletes have received a boost as they have stepped onto the Welsh Talent Development Academy – a Welsh Athletics programme designed to nurture potential world-beaters of the future.

And the successful scheme has been heralded by Britain’s top 400m man Tim Benjamin who is working towards selection to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Peterston-Super-Ely sprinter explained:

“We have a vast array of talent in this country and the Talent Development Academy will assist youngsters coming through. It is vital that athletes gain access to top coaching and sports science so I’m glad to see that the future of Welsh athletics is receiving the necessary support.”

The new recruits are:

• ·          Race walker Antonio Cirillo from Swansea

• ·          Sarah Dacey – Neath hurdler and long jumper and daughter of Swansea fly half  Malcolm Dacey

• ·          Mold gymnast-turned-pole vaulter and hurdler Christina Hughes

• ·          Rock climber-turned-sprinter Rachel Johncock from Mold

• ·          Pontypridd’s up and coming 400m and 800m specialist Joe Thomas

• ·          Bargoed long jumper and 100m sprinter Rhiannon Yates

• ·          Hammer thrower Katie Yhnell, originally from Cardiff

The WTDA is a Welsh Athletics programme designed to help catapult talented athletes with developmental potential to the top. It is a relatively new initiative, now made up of 14 athletes, which ensures that the young talents have the necessary support needed to progress onto the UK: Athletics World Class Pathway - a programme that focuses on podium and top eight success at Olympic and World level.

The new apprentices are set to benefit from expert coaching, injury support as well as a performance managed budget which can help with the costs of training and competing in domestic and international fixtures.

Welsh Athletics Chief Executive Matt Newman said, “The latest inductees to the Welsh Talent Development Academy will benefit from a programme of coaching and support services which will provide every opportunity for these aspiring athletes to fulfil their potential.”

They join seven existing Academy members:

• Carmarthen’s combined eventer Caryl Granville
• Newport Harriers’ 300m runner Brigid Eades
• World University Games 400m runner Faye Harding of Wrexham
• Swansea Harriers’ up and coming shot, discus and hammer thrower Toni Wells
• Swansea Harriers’ 800m and 1500m runner Chris Gowell
• Figure skater-turned-hammer thrower Stephanie Owens from Buckley
• Kelly Holmes inspired middle distance runner Non Stanford

The WTDA athletes will now be gunning to follow in the footsteps of javelin thrower Lianne Clarke, combined eventer David Guest and discus thrower Brett Morse who last week graduated from the Academy onto the UK:Athletics World Class programme. The trio will now receive funding combined with an holistic package of sports science and sports medicine.

“I’m delighted that three members of the class of 2007 have progressed to the world class programme. The Academy provides an ideal environment for the latest crop of talent to now develop and follow in their footsteps,” added Newman.

Swansea teenager Antnoi Cirillo got started in athletics after he competed for his school and joined Swansea Harriers at the tender age of ten.

The former Bishop Vaughan schoolboy is now undertaking A-level studies at Neath Port Talbot College. His sister is also an athlete as was his mother who once was a coss country runner.

The Lance Armstrong inspired race walker is now gunning to represent Great Britain dividing his training between the National Indoor Athletic Centre in Cardiff and the track in Swansea, he is coached by Martin Bell.

Her father Malcolm Dacey, the skilful Swansea fly-half may have been known for his drop goals and imagination, but Sarah is no less ambitious and is targeting Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

The hurdler – who also specialises in long jump – started in athletics at the age of nine. But she was able to turn her hand to netball and competed at county level.

Training mostly at the first-class facilities at Swansea University, her role model is bubbly Swedish star Carolina Kluft.

As well as excelling on the track, Brigid Eades also plays lacrosse to a high standard and has been invited to Welsh trials in January (2008). She is also a keen netballer, swimmer and tennis player. But though the Monmouth schoolgirl may be a jack of all trades, it certainly doesn’t mean that she’s a master of none.

She won silver at the Under-15 UK National Championships over 300m and she holds Welsh age-group records indoors and outdoors.

Born in West London, she relocated to Newport where she took part on schools competitions. Her success over her peers led her to join Newport Harriers.

She was recently presented with an S4C scholarship by track legend Michael Johnson. It will help pay for specialist coaching.

She is coached by Elwyn Jarrett and trains mostly at Newport Stadium. Her role model is Nicola Sanders.

Gowell, a student at UWIC, is a multi talented British Champion from Newport, South Wales. During 2007 alone he has achieved new lifetime bests in the 800m, 1500m and 1km events.

However, athletics was not Gowells’ only talent – he has also represented Wales on the golf course at under-fifteen level. Yet it was the atmosphere in local school events and the discipline of the sport that tempted him to commit to athletics six years ago. Since then Gowell has emerged as a top Welsh talent, which he demonstrated when winning the 800m at the UK Championships in 2006.

He has competed in Norway, Belgium and Hungary Gowell has experienced strong competition on the International stage.

Multi-talented Caryl Granville is well used to Wales. She is a former Welsh international in gymnastics and cross country. She has also represented West Wales in netball and Llanelli Schools in hockey.

But the variety offered by athletics and the mental toughness required meant that the Llanelli student decided to focus on 400m and heptathlon.

The former Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade pupil credits her parents as having the greatest impact on her career. Indeed, as a former cross country international, her mother certainly has expertise to assist her daughter to the top of her sport.

Career highlights to date are representing Great Britain, smashing the 300m hurdles Welsh record and being named Welsh Schools Track Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Now her ambitions are to compete at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Training in Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff, she is coached by Delyth Brown.

Athletics was not Faye Harding’s first love. In fact, she was a very talented ballet dancer and was even awarded a scholarship at Chester’s Hammond School of Dance.

But, deciding to swap slippers for spikes, she followed her father - a former semi-professional tennis player - into sport.

She is now studying at Loughborough University and has already graced the international stage. In 2007, she reached the semi-finals of the World Student Games and assisted the women’s 4 x 400m team win bronze. She also finished sixth over 400m in the European Under-23 Championships. Now her focus is to compete in London 2012.

Her role model is Paula Radcliffe – “because of her success at balancing an athletics career, academic career and now motherhood.”

In her spare time, she still enjoys dancing and she also plays volleyball. She is coached by Nick Dakin who has worked with Wales great Iwan Thomas and Chris Rawlinson.

Hughes was encouraged in primary school to take part in athletics through the Sports Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport programme. Having spotted her talent, she was invited to Deeside Athletics Club when she was 11.

She had always loved watching athletics on the television and, having represented North Wales in gymnastics, was spurred on by the fact that pole vaulters are very often ex-gymnasts.

Citing Yelena Isynbyaeva and Colin Jackson as her role models (“because they have achieved levels in their sport that have never been achieved by any other person”), her career highlights to date are representing Wales and finished second in the Celtic Games in 2007.

She would now like to pull on the Welsh vest at the Commonwealth Games and would love to compete in London 2012.

She is coached by Denise Harris (Pole Vault) and Ivor Sayer (Hurdles)

Rachel Johncock is a rock climber-turned-sprinter. Having competed on the cliff face, she turned her attentions to the track.

She is from a sporting family – in fact her grandfather ran the 220 yards for Scotland.

Her role model is Lance Armstrong for his ultimate determination and her sprinting technique was once compared to that of Michael Johnson.

Over three years, she has garnered eight gold medals. She is now dreaming of Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.

When she is not competing or training, she likes to relax by cycling or hill-walking.

She is coached by Phil Oliver / Simon Pendlebury

A figure skater for 11 years, where she was the Wales no.2 at her level, Stephanie Owens has pirouetted her way to being a hammer thrower!

Not the most usual route you may think but her movement skills on the ice have translated to the hammer cage where she is tipped for the top.

The sporting switch followed a chance encounter with a former hammer thrower:

“I sort of fell into hammer as my mum was talking to a woman at an Open meeting in Wigan. Turned out the woman used to throw hammer and said I looked like a hammer thrower and would coach me if I wanted.”

The Deeside College student has been competing in the hammer for five years. Just two years after starting to throw, she smashed the under-17 Welsh record.

She hopes to represent Team Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and is also aiming to qualify for London 2012. She is also aiming long-term to feature in the top six at major European and World Championships.

 Non Stanford’s blossoming career all started when she was asked to make up the numbers for the school cross country team. Since then, she has been taken under the wing of double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes and has even travelled to her training camp in South Africa to hone her skills:

“Kelly Holmes has had a huge influence on me,” she explains. “After her outstanding performances in Athens she identified my talent and has shown interest in my progress ever since. To have a double Olympic champion believe in your ability is incredibly motivating and humbling.”

Initially, the Swansea girl followed her mother – a high level coach and judge - into gymnastics. Until the age of nine, she was regularly packing her bags and travelling overseas to compete internationally. She then turned to the pool to demonstrate her competitive edge where she reached national level.

It wasn’t until the age of 14 when her head was turned by running. She has been a member of the Junior World Cross team in 2006. Long-term, she is aiming to compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and to become a regular GB vest-wearer at major championships!

She was recently presented with an S4C scholarship by track legend Michael Johnson. It will help pay for specialist coaching.

Joe Thomas first got a taste for athletics in schools cross country and it wasn’t long before he made his way to Beddau Athletic Club.

But he was also pretty nifty on the pitch, representing his county in school rugby.

His role model is Paula Radcliffe for her sheer determination and focus. But his talent has actually been compared to Seb Coe!

He has racked up a number of Welsh Championship medals in track, cross country and fell running. He has also achieved an under 20 European ranking inside the top ten.

With Commonwealth Games and Olympic honours clearly on his mind, he trains at the National Indoor Athletic Centre in Cardiff under the tutelage of Arwyn Davies.

Forget the Jones’ - it’s a case of keeping up with the Wells family in Crosskeys! Mum Gill is a former netballer and Dad is Alan a keen runner. One brother is a hammer thrower and the other is a high jumper. It really comes as no surprise that Toni is also sporting minded!

Competing in hammer, shot and discus, it all started when she was on the sidelines watching her brother in the hammer cage and decided to give it a go herself.

The Cwmcarn High School has since built up her medal collection, winning silver in the shot at the indoor AAAs in 2007, having previously won bronze twelve months before.

She also broke the Welsh under 13 discus record. She is now targeting a GB ranking inside the top three in all three disciplines.

Bargoed Schoolgirl Rhiannon Yates was introduced to athletes when she first went to her local comprehensive school (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Fleur-de-Lys, Blackwood).

Her role model is Colin Jackson – “because he had a successful career and also particpated in long jump in his earlier years.” She says that her career highlight so far is smashing her personal best at the Welsh Championships by 40cm (Current PB – 5.68m).

Kate Yhnell was first tempted into athletics by her sister who is a sprinter. She accompanied her sister to the local club and was enthralled by the hammer throw.

She is now coached by Lorraine Shaw who is also Yhnell’s role model for “giving me the chance to achieve my dreams.”

Career highlights to date are winning the Under-17 Welsh Championship title. Her burning ambition is to compete for Great Britain in the Olympic Games. She also aims to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games.